1. old rail line positioning was also influenced by land ownership and existing human structures. and our know how how to deal with previously difficult geography has evolved. you may want to study "Stuttgart 21" or "gotthard rail tunnel" or Eurostar channel tunnel or Berlin Munich high speed track to get an intuition for what's possible if there is a political determination.

2. France and Japan have dedicated tracks. Germany has reliable high speed freight lines. again more than anything it's a matter of political will.